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Another ear infection Q
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Anonymous
| Sorry, everyone, but I'm too sleep deprived to search through the 397 threads on ear infections to see if this question is answered...my 18 month old had a double ear infection when we went to the doctor a week and a half ago. The doctor recommended just seeing if it would go away on its own rather than using antibiotics. So now here we are -- the symptoms of her virus that caused the infection have disappeared, but she still doesn't seem back to normal: she's irritable and her sleep is actually becoming more rather than less disrupted. Has anyone had this experience? We're going back to the doctor at the end of the week, but I'd love to know whether this is to be expected or out of the ordinary. |
Anonymous
| Nope, never had a dr. "not" use antibiotics. Sounds like she's still got them, or at least vestiges of them. My son never runs a fever with ear infections, rarely tugs at them, and the only signs are fussiness when going to bed, getting his diaper changed, and waking up in the middle of the night crying. Laying down seems to hurt more than being up and about. |
Anonymous
| We've always immediately gotten antibiotics when DS has been diagnosed with an ear infection . . . . Can you take DD in for a sick visit sooner than the end of this week? Or to urgent care for an ear check? |
Anonymous
| I have 2 kids that are prone to ear infections and have never been sent home without antibiotics. Mine also never have a temperature when they have ear infections, we can often only tell there is a problem by their behavior. I'd go back to the doctor and have it checked out and express a preference for a perscription if they aren't cleared up. |
Anonymous
| Thanks, PPs. I just called the doctor's office to see if I can get a callback about this. I just don't have any experience with ear infections yet, so I've been unsure of what to do. I think the philosophy behind waiting on antibiotics is that some ear infections clear up on their own. But, it sounds like my kid is like 7:28's -- she is fussy and whiny, and is waking up very early in the morning and doesn't want to go back to bed but is obviously exhausted. I also noticed this morning, when she was awake at 4:30, that she was hitting her ear, so I think it must be that. Anyway, thanks again. |
Anonymous
| I just read something about how the standard of care for ear infections in Europe is somewhat different than in the U.S. Apparently, doctors there use the "wait and see" approach more often. They find that the vast majority of ear infections go away on their own, it just takes more time. I can't remember how long it said the untreated ear infections typically take to go away-- maybe four days?-- but it wasn't a week and a half. (I think I read this in the book "Toddler 411" or on Dr. Sear's web page, can't remember that either.) The thing is, our pediatrician told us that it can take up to a month after the infection clears for all the fluid to drain from your babies' ears, and until it does, they are prone to get another infection. (That was her basis for using antibiotics-- the longer 10-day course, as opposed to a shorter 7-day course.) |
Anonymous
| OP here: thanks so much, 8:51. I'm totally happy with my doctor's recommendation to try the wait and see approach, as A) my child seemed not be to suffering very much at the time and B) I only want to use antibiotics when necessary. But, the question is, when and if you change course; so it's very helpful for me to have your thoughts and advice. |
Anonymous
| i also thought part of the issue is whether it's viral or bacterial. my pediatrician has usually told me that i can wait 24 hours and see if my son seems ok. if not, give the antibiotics. |
zumbamama
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| Wait and see approach worked for me. DS didn't get rid of it until I stopped using antibiotics. |
Anonymous
7:28 again. My son is very prone to ear infections and antibiotics are the only thing that work, or else I'd be all for the wait-and-see approach as well. Sometimes they beat them, sometimes they don't. I've gone a few extra days to see if they would clear up on their own, but they don't for my son. Unfortunately. I think the continued fussiness is a good indication they haven't gone away. |
Anonymous
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Our son, 5, has been prone to ear infections and fluid since he was a baby. As the doctors predicted, the problems lessened as he got older. Until this past year, he'd get rid of the infection but still have fluid in at least one ear for a while - we go to a "conservative" pediatrics practice on this issue and they always felt that tubes were not worthwhile. We did go to an ENT a couple of times for hearing tests and DS was perfectly fine - no damage, and he always talked at an age-appropriate level. His last infection was about 3 weeks ago and this time, his ears were perfectly clear afterward. What we have noticed is that the past 2 infections were more painful for our son -- both times, he woke up crying in the middle of the night.
We did not run to the doctor every time he tugged his ears because we'd have been living there, but we did go periodically for ear checks. Always got antibiotics and no regrets whatsoever! |
Anonymous
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How many days has it been? I have read that most ear infections do go away on their own, so now if my son complains his ear hurts, I give him tylenol and wait (either it goes away or the kid is just playing me to get tylenol). But I would think after a week - or if your child is really miserable, to go to the doctor.
If you do wait for the end of the week (I think you said you were going), I would give the child tylenol at night. |
Anonymous
| OP again here: thanks, everyone, for your varied experiences. It's helpful to know the range of symptoms and treatments. Tylenol has not been helping so far, unfortunately. I spoke with the doctor and she is prescribing some sort of ear drop to try to lessen the pain -- she described it as "orajel for the ears" -- until we come in on Thursday. Let's hope it provides dd some relief, so that we can all sleep and quasi-function again someday. |
Anonymous
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I'm not an ear expert, but I have my own long and sorted history of ear infections and DD had them at that age as well. She had 2 sets of tubes and adenoids out (the second set of tubes + adenoid removal did the trick). Anytime she had infections, she ran a fever and was fussy/in pain and woke up often crying in the night. I realize there are many different ideas on treating ear infections (a friend of mine actually took her daughter for acupuncture treatments) and concerns about over medicating. One thing to consider if the fluid in the ears continues to be a recurring problem -- prolonged fluid in the ears, either infected or not, results in temporary hearing loss and poor speech development. Also, sometimes the pressure of the fluid can be so much that the eardrum ruptures (this happened to my daughter - also happened to me) - which can have more serious results.
I've never heard of putting a numbing agent in the ear rather than treating with antibiotic. You might seek a second opinion. |